The idea behind this is you “cannot even mention anything negative because you attract it”. No, no.

Real faith is bold enough and has the courage to face facts square on and still be able to say “but God”. In other words, real faith can say “I don’t care how big the problem, God is bigger!”

Remember David? Did he for a moment minimize the strength, power and size of Goliath? Not at all! He knew that he David was no match for Goliath.

David knew his God! He knew his God was bigger than Goliath and he KNEW his God (THE God) would be with him. He had courage and FAITH.

Daniel made a very bold declaration:

But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. (Daniel 11:32)

Daniel certainly knew what he was talking about! When he was thrown into the lions den, he did not overcome them by talking himself into thinking they were mere cats! No, he KNEW they were lions and they were dangerous and he faced them!

But Daniel did not face the lions alone. He faced them with FAITH and confidence, not in his power but in the power of his God.

Faith and fear cannot live together:
I have been around people who are so fearful of even mentioning their problem or difficult situation for fear that they are making a “negative confession”. (Yes, there are even Christians with this attitude, and they say they are walking in faith!).

Faith is not fearful. Real faith is well able to face the FACTS and say BUT GOD. Why? because real faith always looks higher than the problem, difficulty or challenge.

So one negative statement is not the issue (and yes I agree, idle words are not good!) The REAL issue is focus!

What are you FOCUSING on? What is the mediation of your heart?

• Are you focusing on and meditating on the problem or on solutions?
• Are you focusing on the negative “what ifs” as an outcome to a situation or are you focusing on victory?

Today’s question:
Are you REALLY walking in faith or could there be some fear in your life still?

Today’s challenge:
Let’s cast aside ALL fear and walk in REAL faith. Faith that is courageous and well able to face facts but know that there is a higher fact. God’s fact!

Real faith looks the present facts in the face and say: I see you, BUT God is greater! Real faith faces the present facts and then looks higher!

Photo Credit

Sir Edmund Hillary was from Auckland, New Zealand

Sir Edmund was a great man with great achievements.

But he did not achieve his success at the first attempt. Success did not come easily.

I have a question for you:
How many times do you set out to achieve a goal only to find that everything seems to go wrong and you soon give up?

The proof of just how serious you are about your goals and dreams is found in how you react when things go wrong.

Do you have the determination to push through and push on until you achieve your goals? Or do you give up after just a few failures and discouragements?

Will you persist and refuse to give up it is because you REALLY have a vision.

BUT:
When you cannot find just how to achieve your goals and you seem to continually be hitting a brick wall with every attempt, you are faced with a temptation.

Will you give up saying: “well I guess it just is not God’s will for me to be successful”

If this is you, could it be that you goals and dreams were just day dreams? You had not turned them into SERIOUS goals and dreams.

Let’s consider something that Edmund Hillary said when faced with yet another failed attempt at climbing Mt Everest. He stood at the bottom of the mountain looking up and said:

“I WILL conquer you because you cannot get any bigger than you already are, but I continue to grow each day”

Now THAT is determination right? Not long after that he achieved his goal. Mt Everest was conquered.

So today I have a challenge for you!
Just how serious are you about your goals and dreams in life?

Are you prepared to pursue them at all costs?

Photo:
The photo was taken in Christchurch New Zealand inside a tram. This is a plaque that is a memorial to Sir Edmund Hillary.

This happened in the State of Oaxaca, Mexico in a small village.

We had been invited to a village close to San Pedro Chindua, Oaxaca. I always had 1-2 girls, and often a family with me who were helping me as I was training them. One of the girls had to look after her nephew who was at the time between 3-4 years old, so he was with us also.

Little Josué of course had some toys with him. The village children for the most part, did not have toys. In fact they did not seem to play at all.

Sadly also, it was not uncommon to see a 5 year old actually working in the fields, carrying sticks or doing some little task to help. We never saw them play.

Then when they came to the Vacation Bible School, we discovered they did not even know HOW to play!. Life was full of nothing but work for them. My team spent some time playing with a ball with a group of youngsters to TEACH them how to play!

One little boy of about 4 years old was trying hard to get a toy away from Josué, with the obvious intention of breaking it. Josué of course was resistant.

I noticed what was happening and went over to prevent the fight which was obviously about to happen. I said to the little boy “no, you can’t have this toy, it belongs to Josué”. He continued to pull at it, hardly acknowledging me. I spoke to him a second time. He kept on trying get the toy, and his intent was obvious, he was going to break it.

Finally I spoke to him a little firmer, and he stopped and looked at me and absolutely blew me away by what he said.

When adults say “No” , he said, they always mean “Yes”.

This little boy in one of the villages of Oaxaca, just 4 years old was simply declaring what he had learned from adults. He had really thrown out a challenge!

What are the children in your life learning from you!

Yuli.

I know that different things can help different people focus, and achieve their goals, but for me it is a clear step by step challenge.

Yesterday I found just the right challenge to set me moving a little faster and more focused than I have been able to do. I found this challenge in the Warrior Forum.

The Challenge
Write one article a day for www.ezinearticles.com and test the results for visitors and sales. I am on my way

What helps you to focus and achieve your goals?

I would love to hear about it.

I love to study different ways of learning, and of thinking.

Please share your experiences with focus and achieving your goals and let’s win this race called life together!

Yuli

When I saw him, I calculated him to be around 80 yrs old. He looked strong, but he steadied himself a little when he stood to introduce a tune. However he played with the enthusiasm and strength we all know him for. It was obvious he still thoroughly enjoys life and what he is doing. This photo was taken in March of 2008 (This year!)

When I came home I consulted Wikipedia to find he was born in 1920, making him 88 years old! Wow, and he’s still doing Jazz Festivals.

Tonight was both a treat and a challenge. It was a treat to be able to see a great legend of the Jazz Scene in person, and a challenge to see someone almost 90 years old still enjoying life and living his passion.

The challenge.
What will you and I be doing at almost 90 years old?
Will we be living our passion?

This depends greatly on whether we are living our passion now.

Have you discovered your passion in life?
Have you boldly stepped out to live it?

Let’s take the challenge set by Dave Brubeck and other greats and follow our passion and live life to the full.

Yuli.